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1 / 50#50. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $108,510
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,200 people (2.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Rochester
Despite recession fears and falling consumer confidence, the job market in the United States has remained relatively stable in 2025 thus far. According to May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics data, around 177,000 new jobs were added in April, a slight decrease from the 185,000 new jobs added in the month before, but an extension of the country's 52-month streak of job growth. Unemployment rates also held relatively steady between April 2024 and April 2025, coming in at around 4%.
Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean Americans have it easy in the workplace. A December 2024 Payscale report found that nearly half (47%) of business organizations struggle to balance fair pay practices with spend optimization, and 18% plan to reduce pay increases in 2025 as a result.
For context, median weekly earnings across all employees in the U.S. stood at $1,194 in the first quarter of 2025. This represents an increase of 4.8% from a year prior and exceeds the Consumer Price Index's 2.7% increase in the same time period. However, there's one caveat: Earnings go much further in some places than in others.
In fact, the very definition of a "high-paying" job varies by location, as well as other factors such as industry and benefits. Even a six-figure salary may be considered low-income in places with an unusually high cost of living. Meanwhile, technology, finance, and health care jobs lead in terms of salary, but benefits like remote work can make other lower-paying jobs more desirable.
Regardless, anyone seeking a high-paying job should start by looking at the numbers. Stacker used BLS data to find the 50 highest-paying jobs in Rochester. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2024, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.
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2 / 50#49. Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors
- Median annual wage: $108,630
- Median hourly wage: $52.23
- Total employment: 100 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Software developers
- Median annual wage: $108,770
- Median hourly wage: $52.29
- Total employment: 4,270 people (8.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Physical scientists, all other
- Median annual wage: $109,860
- Median hourly wage: $52.82
- Total employment: 80 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pheelings media // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Statisticians
- Median annual wage: $110,140
- Median hourly wage: $52.95
- Total employment: 40 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $110,650
- Median hourly wage: $53.20
- Total employment: 440 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Computer network architects
- Median annual wage: $111,280
- Median hourly wage: $53.50
- Total employment: 510 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $111,480
- Median hourly wage: $53.60
- Total employment: 190 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
creativemarc // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Administrative services managers
- Median annual wage: $111,940
- Median hourly wage: $53.82
- Total employment: 580 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Database architects
- Median annual wage: $112,050
- Median hourly wage: $53.87
- Total employment: 150 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Biochemists and biophysicists
- Median annual wage: $113,010
- Median hourly wage: $54.33
- Total employment: 50 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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12 / 50#39. Psychologists, all other
- Median annual wage: $114,250
- Median hourly wage: $54.93
- Total employment: 30 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
dokurose // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Actuaries
- Median annual wage: $114,490
- Median hourly wage: $55.04
- Total employment: 70 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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14 / 50#37. Industrial production managers
- Median annual wage: $114,780
- Median hourly wage: $55.19
- Total employment: 710 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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15 / 50#36. Facilities managers
- Median annual wage: $117,760
- Median hourly wage: $56.61
- Total employment: 470 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Podiatrists
- Median annual wage: $119,220
- Median hourly wage: $57.32
- Total employment: 40 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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17 / 50#34. Nurse midwives
- Median annual wage: $119,270
- Median hourly wage: $57.34
- Total employment: 40 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $125,600
- Median hourly wage: $60.39
- Total employment: 1,910 people (3.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $127,950
- Median hourly wage: $61.52
- Total employment: 210 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $128,680
- Median hourly wage: $61.86
- Total employment: 950 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Medical and health services managers
- Median annual wage: $129,850
- Median hourly wage: $62.43
- Total employment: 1,310 people (2.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Construction managers
- Median annual wage: $129,890
- Median hourly wage: $62.45
- Total employment: 390 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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23 / 50#28. Natural sciences managers
- Median annual wage: $130,670
- Median hourly wage: $62.82
- Total employment: 170 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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24 / 50#27. Managers, all other
- Median annual wage: $131,580
- Median hourly wage: $63.26
- Total employment: 510 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $132,150
- Median hourly wage: $63.54
- Total employment: 460 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Chemical engineers
- Median annual wage: $132,480
- Median hourly wage: $63.69
- Total employment: Not available
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
27 / 50#23. Training and development managers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $133,270
- Median hourly wage: $64.07
- Total employment: 130 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Pharmacists (tie)
- Median annual wage: $133,270
- Median hourly wage: $64.07
- Total employment: 1,050 people (2.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Skycolors // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Commercial pilots
- Median annual wage: $135,350
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Fundraising managers
- Median annual wage: $135,600
- Median hourly wage: $65.19
- Total employment: 140 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $138,010
- Median hourly wage: $66.35
- Total employment: 2,050 people (4.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Human resources managers
- Median annual wage: $138,190
- Median hourly wage: $66.44
- Total employment: 640 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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33 / 50#18. Compensation and benefits managers
- Median annual wage: $138,250
- Median hourly wage: $66.47
- Total employment: 70 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $139,990
- Median hourly wage: $67.30
- Total employment: 90 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $142,590
- Median hourly wage: $68.55
- Total employment: 810 people (1.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. Public relations managers
- Median annual wage: $143,560
- Median hourly wage: $69.02
- Total employment: 140 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Purchasing managers
- Median annual wage: $146,460
- Median hourly wage: $70.41
- Total employment: 230 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kanghophoto // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Financial managers
- Median annual wage: $156,790
- Median hourly wage: $75.38
- Total employment: 2,060 people (4.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $159,680
- Median hourly wage: $76.77
- Total employment: 420 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BOY ANTHONY // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Architectural and engineering managers
- Median annual wage: $159,700
- Median hourly wage: $76.78
- Total employment: 570 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. Marketing managers
- Median annual wage: $159,750
- Median hourly wage: $76.80
- Total employment: 1,230 people (2.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Frame Stock Footage // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Computer and information systems managers
- Median annual wage: $162,910
- Median hourly wage: $78.32
- Total employment: 1,570 people (3.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
dokurose // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Sales managers
- Median annual wage: $164,990
- Median hourly wage: $79.32
- Total employment: 1,120 people (2.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Sebastian Duda // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
- Median annual wage: $170,520
- Median hourly wage: $81.98
- Total employment: 160 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Psychiatrists
- Median annual wage: $182,270
- Median hourly wage: $87.63
- Total employment: 130 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Chief executives
- Median annual wage: $185,280
- Median hourly wage: $89.08
- Total employment: 280 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Obstetricians and gynecologists
- Median annual wage: $202,240
- Median hourly wage: $97.23
- Total employment: 180 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Family medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $215,210
- Median hourly wage: $103.47
- Total employment: 100 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Physicians, all other
- Median annual wage: $237,660
- Median hourly wage: $114.26
- Total employment: 420 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Nurse anesthetists
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 90 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cu Fleshman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.
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